Roland Tchakounte

Not so long ago, polemic was rife within French Blues-lovers: should the Blues be sung in French or in English? Roland Tchakounté puts everyone straight: he sings the Blues in Bamiléké, a language from Cameroon, his native country. With sometimes a few words in English, I'll give you that. But do not think that we are talking about "world blues" here - an hybrid between Blues influences and traditional African music. No. Roland Tchakounté sing THE Blues, the one with 3 chords on 12-12 time. On this LP, you will find however a few titles of different styles, some that sounds à la Van Morrison's, some à la Zucchero's, and even some Rock incursions, either "and roll" or "ballad". Roland's voice, husky like Taj Mahal's, powerful like Omar Dykes', is gently authoritative amid the seasoned musicians who accompanied him and among whose we find the excellent guitar player Jim Drouillard. This LP is full of qualities, even though it is not without the kind of flaws that you generally find on many first works. Perhaps our friend Tchakounté has had to wait for too long the opportunity for a recording session, as all these different styles give the impression that he was eager to make us discover all his talents in one LP only. What comes out from this album as its whole is rather pleasant, but to the more "bluesy" titles goes my liking. Not because I show some traces of fundamentalism, but simply because it's through them that Roland Tchakounté's pleasure is the most obvious, and therefore the most infectious. It's more than enough to feel the desire to see him on stage. - René Malines -France

From the very first notes of 'Adigo for Amerika', he intrigues us with his rough blues and his voice. His country, his language, his influences from an other continent bring to this artist a unique originality. 12 strong Blues' titles, with striking melodies bathing in Shuffle, Rock and Rn'B. - Rejean Nadon

...In 2000, Roland was certainly one of the revelation brought to light by Blues sur Seine's Le Tremplin (you may listen to 'Adigo for Amerika' on the collector CD n°3).
From the very first listening (on record or on stage), it is his voice, purring, warm and husky that grabs you, and then his words, sung in Bamiléké -a Cameroon's dialect-, that intrigue you... He sings the Blues ! with rich and diverse arrangements, tinted with Rock, Soul and Jazz tempos (a huge work made on the keyboard side).
He says himself that he has been influenced by John Lee Hooker and Otis Redding, by Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen... But even if those references have inspired his songs, it's a brand new style of Blues, completely genuine, that he has to offer.
His songs talk about everyday life, about the future, his expectations, his dreams : Adigo for amerika, Seni Fih, Me Koh Blues, etc. His compositions fluctuate between Shuffle, wild Boogie and Rock ballads, interspersed with magnificent piano solos, organ and above all, guitar.
So The scene is set : it is now up to you to relish this new Afro-Blues-Rock cocktail.
Although he has recorded a few LPs in Cameroon, he regards 'Bred Bouh Shuga Blues' as his very first LP, the one that is really just like him...
- Marc Loison

More than willing to make not only his own style evolves but the Blues in its wider sense also, Roland Tchakounté embarks on a bold and ambitious work, which he judiciously names 'Aba Ngo', a title that could be translated as 'Forward', or "Charge" even… One is keen to make reference to great African artists, such as Youssou N'Dour, Amar Sundy, Corey Harris or Boubakar Traoré, but on second thoughts, the music of this Parisian guy distances itself from theirs a little, as he constantly catches us off balance with a very occidental playing, even though his spellbinding singing shows clearly its origins.

From the distance, we can feel Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker's influence, we can catch a glimpse of cotton fields landscapes that merge into wilderness' haze. Roland Tchakounté plays a native Blues with African roots and a European sensibility. And if he still allows himself a few jaunts towards Funk and Soul music, it is only to highlight an Art which appeals more to the four chords, either electric or acoustic, rather than a somewhat excessive use of percussion...
- Fred Delforge